Mountain rescue's busiest year captured on TV

A number of Lake District Mountain Rescue teams have worn body cameras for a new TV show

Life as a Lake District mountain rescue volunteer has been captured on camera for a new TV show.

Rescuers have just had their busiest year on record, with about 600 call-outs, and they are on track to beat that only four months into 2024.

They have used body-worn cameras and been followed by TV crews for the More4 series Lake District Rescue.

Janice Hamilton, leader of the Coniston team, said people never go out thinking something could go wrong, but when they do casualties are often embarrassed.

"It is an essential service that we happily provide to help people," she said.

Crews were filmed carrying out a variety of rescues and searches

TV crews captured a variety of rescues of people including fallen climbers, injured bikers and paragliders.

Ms Hamilton said: "When the film crews weren't physically there, we were wearing body-cams, so we could just forget that this was being filmed - though maybe we were aware of our language.

"When the crews were there, you're focused so much still on what you're doing that you don't really notice, because they don't get in the way."

However, she said the scenes that were set-up by the crews were more difficult to film.

"I had a preview of it [the series] as team leader and that was the worst bit - seeing myself on TV. I don't even like having my picture taken," she added.

Ms Hamilton said teams are expecting to face more challenges as the weather improves.

"Last year was our busiest and we have already past the number that we did last year at this time, we're ahead of last year's numbers, so that's not looking great."

The four part-series of Lake District Rescue starts on Sunday on More4.